It's an ordinary residential area, full of low-rise bungalows and long and short slopes, with winding alleys and hardly a flat, straight road.
It's clear that this country has a very small land area, so the habitable areas are crammed together, with the main goal of not wasting a single square meter.
It was drizzling down from the sky, and apart from a few children carrying their schoolbags to school together, there were almost no other pedestrians on the road.
The door of a small grocery store opened, and a simply dressed woman saw a seven or eight-year-old girl off at the door. While holding up a small yellow umbrella to shield the girl's head, she said, "So-won, hurry up and go to school. Don't play around on the way, or you'll be late."
"Oh, Mom, I know. I'm not a little fat boy who would forget to go to school just because I see ants moving on the street."
The little girl pouted mischievously and waved to her mother.
The woman looked at the slippery road, her face full of worry. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Why don't I take you to school? The rain is too heavy, it's not safe for you to go alone."
With a gentle push, So-won ushered the woman into the house: "No need to see me off, Mom. You still have a little brother in your belly, so you should stay home and rest. I can go to school by myself, don't worry."
The woman said helplessly, "Okay, then be careful and stay safe. Take the main road and don't take shortcuts."
"Okay."
So-won, holding an umbrella, had already stepped into the rain, her little yellow backpack swaying back and forth, humming a cheerful tune.
The woman touched her belly and looked lovingly at So-won's back. This sensible and well-behaved child was her most beloved daughter, and she would protect her for the rest of her life.
but……
Thinking back to what had just happened, the woman felt a little surprised.
Was she mistaken just now? When So-won gently pushed her with her small hand, she was pushed through the door with almost no resistance; the force was surprisingly strong.
So-won is only eight years old this year, where does she get such strength?
Also, she just said she's pregnant with a baby boy. She just found out she was pregnant not long ago, and the baby is less than two months old. How does So-won know it's a baby boy?
After a long while, she still couldn't figure it out. The woman found it somewhat amusing; she really was experiencing the "pregnancy brain" phenomenon for three years.
Children are fickle. Yesterday, So-won was touching her belly and calling her "little sister," but it seems she doesn't want a little sister anymore and wants a little brother instead.
As for that strange force, it must have been my imagination.
The woman kept staring at So-won's back until she turned into another road and disappeared from sight, then she turned around and went back into the house.
So-won was walking down the street when she ran into a group of chubby kids walking with their friends.
The chubby boy was her neighbor and childhood friend, but they had a fight a few days ago. So, the vengeful little brat, upon seeing So-won, not only didn't wait for her to go to school together, but instead made a face at her and ran off with the rest of his friends.
Hmph, that chubby boy has made up his mind. This time, he won't make up with Su-won unless she brings him candy from her family's convenience store.
After the chubby boy and his group ran away, only So-won was left on the road.
The chubby boy had no idea what kind of tragedy his actions would cause, leading to endless regret whenever he thought about what he had done that day.
So-won stood there watching her friends run away, her little yellow umbrella slightly raised, and a sweet smile curved her small lips.
Then, ignoring her mother's instructions, she turned and walked into another narrow and cramped road.
If we don't take this path, how can we possibly run into that beast who abused the child, and... kill him?
"Xiao Yin, watch out, that beast is about to turn the corner and come over."
A glint of expectation flashed in So-won's big eyes, and she tilted her head: "Okay, Ata-gege, I'll play with him properly later."
So-won continued walking forward, humming a cheerful tune. Not far ahead, a man staggered out of the alley and looked up to see a little girl carrying a small backpack and holding a small yellow umbrella.
The man was about fifty years old, tall and strong, dressed sloppily, with greasy hair like weeds.
A few strands of hair fell down his forehead, obscuring his bloodshot, scarlet eyes. Rainwater streamed down his body, but it couldn't wash away the filth on him.
The moment the man saw So-won, his cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, his stubble-covered mouth twitched slightly, and then he stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
He walked up to So-won in a few steps, looking down at the little girl until she looked up at him from where he was blocking her way.
Compared to the tall man, So-won's small body looked like a blade of grass under a big tree.
Upon seeing that innocent and adorable little face, the man's filthy thoughts surged instantly. Coupled with the alcohol he had been drinking, his evil intentions were amplified infinitely, and the last shred of humanity collapsed, revealing the perverted demon beneath the human skin.
"Uncle, is there anything I can help you with?" So-won asked, looking up.
The little girl's clear and melodious voice rang out, and the man was so excited that his soul trembled. He looked around and said, "It's raining so hard, and I don't have an umbrella. I'm soaked to the bone. Shouldn't you, little girl, share your umbrella with me?"
So-won remained silent. The man's lewd gaze swept over their surroundings once more. The rain was getting heavier, and the two of them were the only ones on the road.
The man felt relieved; with this kind of weather and this kind of opportunity, it was as if even God was on his side.
Without pedestrians, there are no eyewitnesses, and any traces and evidence will disappear under the heavy rain.
As for cameras, they're not something you'd find in a poor place like this.
Everything happened without anyone knowing.
The man reached out, preparing to cover the little girl's mouth and forcibly carry her away. With his strength, even an adult woman would be unable to resist, let alone an eight-year-old girl.
“The uncle is right. I’m a good kid and I can’t just watch him get soaked in the rain. So, I’ll take you home, wherever you live.”
So-won tilted her cute little face up and said obediently.
The man's hand froze in mid-air. What a good child! He really "likes" children.
"Good child, thank you. Now come with me."
The man took the umbrella from Su-won's hand, grabbed her small schoolbag, and led her into a deserted path. Ahead were abandoned and dilapidated houses, long since uninhabited.
So-won obediently followed the man, seemingly unaware of any danger.
The small yellow umbrellas completely sheltered the man's head, leaving So-won's small body exposed to the rain.
The man, his mind filled with malice and anticipation of the wonderful things he was about to enjoy, would have been horrified if he had looked down at the little girl.
The rain fell from the sky, but the raindrops disappeared completely when they reached the little girl, leaving her body dry, even down to her hair.
It's like... the raindrops are afraid of something.
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